• Try these stretches before your next baseball game or practice.baseball in glove image by leafy from Fotolia.com
  
  Stretching properly before playing or practicing baseball can help ward off injury as well as improve your level of play. Time before each practice or game should be set aside so that a team can properly loosen up their muscles before throwing a ball or swinging a bat. While there are many different stretches that can be performed, these are some of the most common in baseball.
  
  

Arm Circles

• Arm circles focus on loosening the shoulder muscles and the rotator cuff region of your body -- where the shoulder meets the arm. This is primarily important for throwing the baseball, but also comes into play when you perform motions such as swinging the bat as well. Players should hold their arms straight out to the side so that they are in a "T shape." Players will then start making small, tight circles with their arms. Next, the arm circles will gradually get bigger until their arms are making big, large circles. This stretch can be repeated a couple of times.
  
  

Wrist Stretch

• The wrist plays an important role in throwing the baseball accurately, as well as swinging a baseball bat comfortably. Players should hold their arm out in front of them. Using the other hand, players should pull back the finger tips of the out stretched arm and hold it for several seconds. The stretch will be felt on the top of the wrist. This stretch should be repeated on the other hand.
  
  

Roll-Over Stretch

• The roll-over stretch focuses on loosening the tips and torso of the body. It is important to have a comfortable range of motion in the torso region for both running and swinging the baseball bat. Players should lie on their back with their knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Players should stretch their arms out the side so that they are in a "T shape." Players should then allow their knees to fall to one side of their body, while keeping their back flat. The stretch will be felt in the lower back, hip and torso region. Players should repeat this stretch to the other side.